LOOKING BACK

10-20-40-100 YEARS AGO

100 YEARS AGO....

C. C. Bethea, former Rockdale lawman, was convicted of second degree murder, in connection with the shooting of J. H. Head in the Rockdale SA&AP Depot and drew a fiveyear term. “None of the jurors had beards, probably the first beardless jury ever for a murder case in 37th District Court, San Antonio.”

Early reports indicated 1911 would be a banner year for both cotton and corn in Milam County.

Foot doctor H. Forster of Houston was in Milam County, promising to “cure corns, bunions and other foot diseases without the use of a knife.”

Andrew Noack of Rockdale opened a bottling business in downtown Thorndale.

FORTY YEARS AGO....

One adult and three juveniles were arrested in connection with burglaries of schools in Rockdale and Cameron.

The former San Gabriel Post Office burned to the ground. It had been used as a warehouse by a wholesale company and was being used to store candy.

The U.S. Navy awarded a $7- million dollar aluminum powder contract to Alcoa, which produced the powder in its Rockdale atomizer.

Rockdale’ s temperature climbed to 97, an all-time high for March, then dropped 40 degrees as a cold front ripped through Central Texas.

TWENTY YEARS AGO....

“Shoot this thang!” A crowd of 750 filled the KC Hall as country comic superstar entertained at the annual Rockdale Chamber of Commerce Banquet.